The start of a new year is a symbolic clean slate. It’s a chance to embrace fresh opportunities, set ambitious goals, and imagine what lies ahead.

It’s also a great time to pause for a moment of reflection. Before diving headfirst into the demands of work, school, or life’s daily rhythm, we can appreciate the journey we’ve traveled over the past year. It’s a chance to celebrate our achievements, reflect on the lessons learned and challenges faced, and carry forward the wisdom we’ve gained.

So, before we launch full steam ahead into the new year, let’s take a look back at some of the most compelling and memorable stories that defined 2024 on EmoryBusiness.com.

Welcoming Impressive Inaugural Classes to Two New Programs

Meet the Inaugural Cohort of Goizueta’s New Master in Management Program

One of Goizueta Business School’s newest additions is the Master in Management degree, a program for recent college graduates with liberal arts and science majors. Spanning 10 months, the program acts as a “fast track” option for students to gain business skills to complement their undergraduate work. Among the inaugural cohort, 38% graduated from an Emory University program, with a total of 84% of the class graduating from their undergraduate programs in 2024.

Meet the First Cohort of Goizueta’s New Master in Business for Veterans

Goizueta Business School launched a new graduate degree last year, and the first cohort of students started in May. The Master in Business for Veterans program is led by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen. The inaugural cohort of this working professional program includes 31 students. Among them are two Air Force, 19 Army, five Marines, and five Navy veterans and active duty service members. These men and women have decorated and accomplished backgrounds, including several careers of service to the United States.

Experiential Learning Opportunities Abound

MBA Students Explore Denmark’s Model for Work and Well-being

This summer, more than 25 MBA students from Goizueta Business School ventured out of the classroom and across the globe, traveling to Copenhagen, Denmark to explore how the Danes approach their short work week (standard 37 hours), while having some of the most productive companies in the world. The immersive experience is part of a new course at Goizueta, Life Design for the Modern MBA, focused on helping Goizueta students—who are passionate, ambitious, and often working in overdrive—to find meaning and fulfillment in both career and life.

Team Building with Taste: Lessons in Leadership from the Kitchen

At first, Yaqi Liu 26BBA wasn’t keen about getting up early on a Saturday to cook. But over the course of the day, Liu changed his mind. “It was a really good experience,” he says. That experience is called “Team Building with Taste.” It’s a cooking competition in the style of Bravo network’s “Top Chef,” except with the ultimate goal of improving team dynamics. The challenge is a part of the undergraduate BBA program’s Team Dynamics and Leadership class. Over multiple weekends this fall, student teams were given a $50 budget, a set time to plan and shop, and one hour to cook and plate their meals. The teams then presented their dishes to a panel of judges.

How HackATL Fosters Future Changemakers

A lot can happen in 48 hours. For Selina Kao 27BBA, that was the turnaround time afforded her team at this October’s HackATL competition. Their mission? Transform a fledgling business idea into an actionable plan. Hosted by The Roberto C. Goizueta Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, this year’s event—powered by a dynamic collaboration between InnovATL, the City of Atlanta and the center—brought together more than 300 students from across the Southeast. After two days of frenetic brainstorming, building, and pitching transformative start-up initiatives to a panel of judges, the top teams took home over $13K in prizes.

Accomplished Alumni Create Meaningful Impact

Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Matt Smith

In February 2025, Matt Smith 01MBA will retire as a two-star major general for the U.S. Army. His story is unique because of its many twists and turns. Smith joined the Army in college, before heading to the corporate world in Atlanta in the late 90s and enrolling in Goizueta Business School’s MBA program. However, it wasn’t long before Smith realized that the military was where he was meant to be. He resumed active duty for the Army in 2019, and in December 2022, he stepped into his current role as commander of the Joint Task Force – North. His team has helped federal agencies with interdepartmental coordination and assisted U.S. Border Patrol when they needed additional observation help. Smith says the skills he gained from earning an MBA have helped set him apart as a military leader. Now he’s he’s giving voice to Goizueta’s veterans as part of the advisory board for the new Master in Business for Veterans program.

Meet Marnie Harris: Building Hotels with Purpose

When Marnie Harris 20MBA was an undergraduate biomedical engineering student, she dreamed of building a more accessible world. Harris helped found The Excel Program at Georgia Tech, a certificate program for students with intellectual disabilities. When Harris graduated, she stayed on to welcome the first cohort of Excel students. But she soon came to believe that creating meaningful employment for this demographic must begin inside business, where the jobs are. So, Harris enrolled in Goizueta Business School’s MBA program, where she received the Woodruff Scholarship, Emory’s most prestigious named scholarship, awarded to Emory applicants who want to make a positive social impact. Now, Harris serves as the director of business and marketing strategy at Pavilion Development Company. There, she’s developing and franchising the Shepherd Hotels brand, which focuses on employing staff with intellectual disabilities.

Holistic Health Starts at Home: Meet Kyle Brown

After enrolling in the One-Year MBA program at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, Kyle Brown 20MBA became interested in holistic living and the various ways cannabidiol (CBD) could improve one’s health. Brown soon teamed up with his aunt, an expert gardener and advocate of natural medicine, who had long been growing her own herbs for healthful teas. The duo developed a series of CBD tea formulas, and ultimately launched their brick-and-mortar cannabis bar Bookstore Gallery. While its products assist in pain management on an individual level, Bookstore Gallery leads the charge of healing on a community level. Brown’s holistic healing mission comes to life through diverse events, including therapy-focused happy hours, game nights, tailgates, spoken word poetry, men’s mental health meetups, and creative outlets like “Puff and Paint.”

Groundbreaking Research from Goizueta’s Brightest Minds

Mitigating Bias in AI: Sharing the Burden of Bias When it Counts Most

From directions on Google Maps to job recommendations on LinkedIn, by now, we’ve all grown accustomed to AI systems’ integration in nearly every aspect of our daily lives. But are AI systems fair? The answer to this question, in short—not completely. Fortunately, some dedicated data scientists are working around the clock to tackle this big issue. One of those data scientists is Gareth James, who also serves as the Dean of Goizueta Business School as his day job. In a recent paper titled “A Burden Shared is a Burden Halved: A Fairness-Adjusted Approach to Classification” Dean James—along with coauthors Bradley Rava, Wenguang Sun, and Xin Tong—have proposed a new framework to help ensure AI decision-making is as fair as possible in high-stakes decisions where certain individuals—for example, racial minority groups and other protected groups—may be more prone to AI bias, even without our realizing it. 

Hiring More Nurses Generates Revenue for Hospitals

Underfunding is driving an acute shortage of trained nurses in hospitals and care facilities in the United States. American nurses are quitting in droves, and that’s bad news for patient outcomes. For beleaguered administrators looking to sustain quality of care while minimizing costs (and maximizing profits), hiring and retaining nursing staff has arguably become something of a zero-sum game in the U.S. But could there be potential financial losses attached to nurse understaffing that administrators should factor into their hiring and remuneration decisions? Research by Goizueta Professors Diwas KC and Donald Lee, as well as recent Goizueta PhD graduates Hao Ding 24PhD (Auburn University) and Sokol Tushe 23PhD (Muma College of Business), would suggest there are.

Training Innovative AI to Provide Expert Guidance on Prescription Medications

A new wave of medications meant to treat Type II diabetes is grabbing headlines around the world for their ability to help people lose a significant amount of weight. The two big names that come to mind are Ozempic and Wegovy. However, both medications come with a host of side effects, and are not suitable for every patient. Many clinics and physicians—particularly in smaller communities—do not have immediate access to expert second opinions needed to make decisions about prescription medications such as these. That’s one of the reasons Karl Kuhnert is using artificial intelligence to capture the expertise of physicians like Caroline Collins MD through the Tacit Object Modeler, or TOM. By using TOM, Kuhnert and Collins can create her “decision-making digital twin.” Though there are a number of ways TOM could be useful to the healthcare industry when prescribing medications, not least among them is the potential to expand access to the expert opinions of medical specialists to rural areas experiencing significant health disparities.

Help keep the great Goizueta stories coming with a gift of support to Emory’s 2O36 campaign.

The post The Best Stories of 2024 from Goizueta Business School appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Join us in celebrating Veterans Day throughout the month of November, as we profile three remarkable veterans in the Goizueta community, each on a unique path but united by their shared commitment to excellence, both in service and beyond.

At Goizueta Business School, supporting veterans and active-duty military members has long been a core value, woven into the school’s identity. Goizueta welcomed its inaugural class of the new Master in Business for Veterans program earlier this year. The fully accredited 11-month program is designed for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. It provides tailored resources and experiences to help veterans transition into business leadership roles.

The new program is only the most recent testament to Goizueta’s enduring dedication to those who have served our country. This year, Goizueta also celebrates its largest cohort of veteran students across all programs.

Meet Matt Smith 01MBA

In February 2025, Matt Smith 01MBA will retire as a two-star major general for the U.S. Army.

After almost 32 years of service, Smith can relax—even though he’s not quite sure what that looks like just yet.

The Beginning

Smith’s story is unique because of its many twists and turns. He joined the Army in college because it provided him a four-year scholarship—the Navy only covered three years. Naively, he admits, he considered the Army the next step after being an eagle scout.

“It just seemed like a natural progression to me, but the story I tell young officers to this day is I had not realized the magnitude of the responsibility when I raised my right hand and got commissioned as an officer of the United States,” admits Smith.

As a brand-new platoon leader in 1994, Smith and his troops deployed with only eight hours’ notice after Saddam Hussein attempted to cross a border the U.S. had imposed.

Smith recalls doing very well during his training at then Fort Benning (now Fort Moore). However, it wasn’t until he landed in Kuwait and took in the scene—armored equipment and live ammunition—that the reality of his responsibilities sunk in.

A plane of his troops would soon arrive and look to his instruction and guidance to keep them safe.

I remember thinking to myself, after sailing through all these courses, “I should have studied harder when I was at Fort Benning,” because in that moment, it got very serious. This is not some advanced form of Boy Scouts. It’s a life and death endeavor.

Matt Smith 01MBA, Major General, U.S. Army

Luckily, the mission didn’t turn into a gunfight, recalls Smith, but that moment of crystallization, the magnitude of his role, informed every decision he has made moving forward.

“I think the units I was in at the times we got ordered to go overseas for both Iraq and Afghanistan, in some immeasurable way, benefited from that early experience.”

But before those future deployments, Smith left the Army and headed to the corporate world in Atlanta in the late 90s.

A Temporary Corporate Calling

Smith took a job as a financial advisor for Morgan Stanley and joined the Georgia National Guard to remain in some version of service, which required one weekend a month and two weeks in the summer. In an effort to help him move up the corporate ladder, Smith also enrolled in Goizueta Business School’s MBA program.

After graduating in 2001, he landed a job at IBM as a global marketing manager. In a review session in 2003, he asked about future leadership opportunities; Smith wanted to know when he’d be given more responsibility.

The answer: Maybe in five years.

For someone who had been responsible for dozens of people and millions of dollars of equipment in his early twenties, Smith realized that the military was where he was meant to be.

I’m not aware of another career, line of work, or professional environment where you can be responsible for so much at respectively young ages.

Matt Smith

“It’s not just the leadership; it’s the human interactions,” says Smith.

“There is no model. Not even artificial intelligence can calculate all the permutations or variables, so it was very exciting in that regard, and I think that’s what kept me going.”

A Career in Command

Smith remained active-duty for the Georgia National Guard from 2003 – 2019. Then, he resumed active duty for the Army and began working for the Department of Defense.

His first role was in the Pentagon as the deputy director of operations for the Army and later for the National Guard Bureau, a position that was perfectly suited for someone with such a robust background in service. For three years, he directed the global operations of both branches.

In December 2022, he stepped into his current role as commander of the Joint Task Force – North. His team has helped federal agencies with interdepartmental coordination and assisted U.S. Border Patrol when they needed additional observation help.

For years, Smith feared that he wasn’t reaping any benefit from that long-ago MBA degree, but his wife, Laura Balser 94BBA 01MBA, insisted he was wrong. She said the value was how it transformed him as a leader.

In retrospect, I openly tell her she was right all those years. Looking back, I can see how my MBA experience made me different as a military leader.

Matt Smith

“As I became more senior, the benefits of the MBA became even more apparent,” shares Smith.

The knowledge of business and finance, an understanding of accounting: These skills allowed him to advise policy makers on significant decisions. It was the skills he gained from earning an MBA that set him apart as a military leader, most of whom don’t have backgrounds in business or economics.

Giving Voice to Goizueta’s Veterans

In 2003, Smith learned about Goizueta’s own Lieutenant General, Retired, Ken Keen. Keen’s son, who was in college at the time, was part of Smith’s company.

“There’s a saying in the military: Three beats two every day. When a three-star says to a two-star, ‘I’d like you to help me with this.’ You say, ‘Yes, sir.’”

Smith became involved with Goizueta when Keen, an associate professor in the Practice of Organization & Management and associate dean for leadership, joined the school. Smith participated in several Leadership Reaction Courses. Now he’s part of the advisory board for Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

The program is designed for veterans, helping them leverage their existing skills and experience for their transition into the civilian, corporate world. The advisory board provides suggestions for the future of the program, and Smith shares that the board has a diverse mix of backgrounds.

Smith praises the program for including the core of a traditional MBA, but “the beauty of the program is that it capitalizes on students’ years of prior service as a means of jump starting whatever their next thing is going to be,” explains Smith.

“Business is one of the major factors that shapes the way the world is, and it’s central to our country,” says Smith. “The Master in Business for Veterans program gives them a fundamental understanding of business.”

Experts in the Human Condition

Smith likes to say that service members have a PhD in the human condition, a phrase someone said to him about his own experience years ago.

Service members likely soak up more data points on the human condition than anyone else at the same respective age.

Matt Smith

“Most of these data points were in very, very stressful environments,” says Smith. “I think, in retrospect, I have developed an insight into the human condition that is valuable and priceless.”

Smith believes that knowledge and awareness of how humans interact is a skill that all service members acquire, often at a young age.

“There is an essence to what these service members bring to a civilian environment that is very unique and special—different than anybody else who works for a firm—and that is valuable. The trick, I think, for those of us senior veterans is to communicate that return on investment to the hiring entity,” says Smith.

So, while Smith may not have any immediate plans for his retirement, he already knows this: He will be spending his future advocating for fellow veterans—and the value they bring to the civilian world.

Goizueta Remembers and Honors this Veterans Day

Veterans Events in November

Veteran in Leadership Speaker Series
Nov 21, 6 – 9 p.m., Featuring Takiesha Waites-Thierry, Bank of America: Learn More

Master in Business for Veterans Information Session at Goizueta
Nov 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., online or in person: Register Now

Learn more about Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

Find out how the Goizueta MBA takes students beyond business as usual. 

The post Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Matt Smith appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

On a crisp morning, members of the Emory—and wider Atlanta—communities gathered on the Quad to pay respects to those who have served in the nation’s uniformed services during the university’s 16th-annual Veterans Day Ceremony.

“At Emory, we talk a lot about ‘in the service of.’ In the service of our students, in the service of scholarship and in the service of humanity, of course. But today, we recognize those who have given so much to the service of our country,” said Ravi V. Bellamkonda, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 

Andrew Nelson 25MBA, Army sergeant and president of the Goizueta Business School Veterans’ Association, served as this year’s emcee. Nelson welcomed attendees and initiated a moment of silence for all those who have served.

In addition to emphasizing the service and sacrifices veterans and active duty members have made, Bellamkonda shared the history of the “Emory Unit.” In 1917, as the U.S. entered World War I, the U.S. Army Surgeon General asked for medical personnel to assist. The unit consisted of 24 officers, 65 nurses and 154 enlisted personnel who had ties to Emory.

“The Emory Unit was formed, as they were called, and operated a 500-bed hospital and treated more than 9,000 patients,” Bellamkonda explained.

We are proud of our service members, those who have answered the call both then and now.

Ravi V. Bellamkonda

At the event, Bellamkonda also announced a new position: the executive director of veterans initiatives. The role will work directly with veterans in Goizueta and will support veteran initiatives at the university level, ensuring they are supported across the entire institution, regardless of their academic program. 

This year’s keynote speaker was Vonetta Daniels, president of the Emory Alumni Veterans Network, a U.S. Air Force veteran and a 2002 Emory College graduate. 

Daniels has remained connected with Emory since graduating and has advocated for veterans and their experiences here.

“It’s important to understand how veterans in the Emory community, whether they be student, alumni or staff, embody the mission and principles of Emory,” said Daniels, a fifth-generation veteran.

The Air Force core values are integrity first, service before self, excellence in all we do, and we carry those values into the community. These complement Emory’s mission to create, preserve, teach and apply knowledge in the service of humanity. The distinct purpose of thinking beyond oneself is foundational to the military experience.

Vonetta Daniels 02C

Now, Daniels is working to engage groups across Emory and the Atlanta metro area to build a community of veterans and a university experience of choice for veterans. “We’re all very committed to this work because we know this hallowed place has a unique opportunity and responsibility to do so.”

Service and Gratitude

Ceremony attendees encompassed a wide range of lived experiences — but they shared the common thread of service and gratitude.

Felicia Warren, who graduated from Oxford College in 1999, Emory College in 2001 and Rollins School of Public Health in 2008, is now a commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and works at the CDC

“My parents are Army veterans and my grandfathers were both in the Army, too,” says Warren. “Service was part of my upbringing and I wanted to serve in a way that made sense for me. Being a public health practitioner and combining that service was ideal for me.”

Warren explained she also attended the ceremony to support Daniels as a fellow Emory Alumni Veterans Network board member.

For current students, the ceremony offered community in more ways than one, including support from non-veterans, the chance to bond with those having similar experiences and the opportunity to connect with more experienced military members.

“I enjoyed meeting the older officers and getting to know them and hear about their experiences,” said Christian Coon 26BBA, a junior in Goizueta Business School. Part of ROTC and a participant in this year’s Honor Guard, Coon leads the third squad and is cross enrolled with Georgia Tech through the ROTC program.

This year’s Honor Guard included veterans from the School of Business, School of Medicine, Emory College, the Public Health Service, Army ROTC cadets from Emory and Georgia Tech, and NROTC midshipmen from Morehouse College and Georgia Tech.

Raymond Posey is a midshipman 4-C and a first-year student at Morehouse College. “Right now, we’ve been learning about the Morehouse Battalion and attending our classes as well as preparing for being commissioned as an officer in the Navy or Marine Corps,” Posey said. “This ceremony means a lot and it was nice to see other folks across the service branches in roles we’d like to be in someday, too.”

While Goizueta student Nate Lundquist 25MBA did not participate in the day’s Honor Guard, he was happy to attend the ceremony. An Army captain O3, he was most recently a company commander at Old Guard, the U.S. Army’s ceremonial unit, which oversees ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and funerals at Arlington National Cemetery.

“My reasons for joining the Army were two-fold,” Lundquist explains, saying he grew up around the military despite his family not being directly involved. “I grew up at Fort Drum in New York, which was one of the most deployed units during the Global War on Terror. I saw both my friend’s parents and my parent’s friends deploying in service. It was a calling from there.

“When I was looking at MBAs to apply for, I was astonished at how military-friendly Emory is and the organizations that Emory employs to both recruit veterans and provide resources,” said Lundquist, who has been in the service for just over seven years.

“This ceremony is a unique and amazing opportunity for bringing the Emory community at large together. We don’t often get to have gatherings like this so it’s a really cool opportunity to see all the people who serve across the Emory community.”

Resources for Veterans

Many resources are available to veterans across Emory University.

The Yellow Ribbon program supports post-9/11 veterans by providing funding to supplement educational expenses beyond what is covered by the G.I. Bill.  

Army or Air Force ROTC are options for undergraduate students interested in military careers. The cross-enrollment agreement with Georgia Tech allows students to complete their undergraduate degrees at Emory and military training at Georgia Tech.

Emory’s Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing was selected to participate in the Veteran Affairs Nursing Academic Partnership (VANAP), an elite program through which undergraduate and graduate nursing students gain valuable training in providing quality healthcare for our nation’s veterans.

In May 2024, Goizueta Business School officially welcomed the first cohort to the new Master in Business for Veterans. Across programs, Goizueta celebrated a record number of veterans and service members joining as students at the school this year. 

Veteran employees across Emory University are welcome to participate in the Emory Veterans Employee Network (EVEN), designed to promote a sense of belonging by Emory veterans through organization, recognition, networking and resources.

The Emory Healthcare Veterans Program offers free, confidential mental health treatment to eligible post-9/11 veterans and service members across the United States, regardless of discharge status, deployment history or length of service. The program features a two-week intensive outpatient treatment program addressing post-traumatic stress disorder, military sexual trauma, substance use disorders and other invisible wounds of war.

Photos by Avery Spalding, Emory Photo/Video.

Read more on Emory News Center.

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Join us in celebrating Veterans Day throughout the month of November, as we profile three remarkable veterans in the Goizueta community, each on a unique path but united by their shared commitment to excellence, both in service and beyond.

At Goizueta Business School, supporting veterans and active-duty military members has long been a core value, woven into the school’s identity. Goizueta welcomed its inaugural class of the new Master in Business for Veterans program earlier this year. The fully accredited 11-month program is designed for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. It provides tailored resources and experiences to help veterans transition into business leadership roles.

The new program is only the most recent testament to Goizueta’s enduring dedication to those who have served our country. This year, Goizueta also celebrates its largest cohort of veteran students across all programs.

Meet Bren Lemoine 25MBV

Bren Lemoine 25MBV doesn’t fit the typical profile of a U.S. Army veteran. An immigrant and a woman, she is “proud to have served this country, whether or not I was born here,” she says. “There are so many amazing, diverse veterans who have accomplished so many things.”

The Journey Begins

Lemoine’s journey to the U.S. Army began in Haiti in late 1991, when a military coup overthrew President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the first popularly elected president in Haitian history. When the new military regime took power, one of the first groups it went after was the press. Lemoine’s father was a broadcast journalist. So, in 1993, when she was eight years old, Lemoine and her family fled Haiti. “You had to choose safety,” she explains.

The family moved to Canada, where Lemoine’s grandmother lived and where Lemoine’s mother, who was battling a cancer diagnoses, had relocated to receive treatment. In 1994, Lemoine’s mother passed away, and her father moved the family to Uniondale, New York, a town on Long Island. In less than three years, Lemoine had left her homeland, lost her mother, and made two major moves.

It definitely built up a strong sense of resilience in me—which I’m very grateful for. I can do hard things.

Bren Lemoine 25MBV

From Adversity to Resilience

Lemoine’s grandmother became one of her greatest sources of support and inspiration. She instilled in her granddaughter a sense that “service connects you to things,” Lemoine says. After high school, Lemoine attended college, but struggled. “I was consuming information with no sense of direction,” she explains. With her grandmother’s blessing, Lemoine left school and enlisted in the U.S. Army. “I was on a journey to discover myself and how I could connect more to this country,” she adds.

While serving in the Army, Lemoine found the connection she longed for, as well as camaraderie and a sense of fulfillment. When she deployed to Iraq, she had the opportunity to learn just how much she was capable of. As a financial soldier, Lemoine occasionally ran pay missions to exchange U.S. dollars into the local currency. At times, she walked through villages with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in her backpack. “In those moments, your training tells you to put aside fear and focus on the mission,” Lemoine says. “I think that can serve you sometimes.”

After the Army

After her time in the Army, Lemoine earned a degree in nutrition science and dietetics. She became a registered dietitian, and put her experience in the Army to work.

My deployment to Iraq gave me firsthand experience managing resources and planning under pressure. These same skills now guide my strategic contributions in the business world.

Bren Lemoine 25MBV

“This background drives my mission-focused work today, whether through business strategy or community engagement,” Lemoine says.

For close to a decade, her private practice has focused on medical nutrition therapy, a treatment that uses nutrition to help manage health conditions in acute and long-term settings. Applying the mission-oriented mindset and adaptability she learned in the military, Lemoine has worked with the City of East Point, Georgia, “to equip people with essential tools and knowledge to improve health literacy and wellness.” She also volunteers with two Atlanta-based nonprofits, Urban Oak Initiative and Soul Food Cypher. Both organizations aim to enhance health and community.

Her experience in healthcare has shown Lemoine that “healthcare requires strategic decision-making—similar to the high-stakes responsibilities in my military experience. Our healthcare systems need innovation and systems-based thinking to truly serve communities and people best,” she says. That’s one of the reasons she decided to pursue a business degree.

Goizueta was the best environment to acquire the tools to create real change in community and health-focused projects, just as I worked to create positive outcomes during my deployment. 

Bren Lemoine 25MBV

Back to Business School

When Lemoine began the Masters in Business for Veterans program earlier this year, she discovered the same camaraderie she felt in the Army.

With service members there’s just an unspoken, instant connection. Everybody wants to see everybody else succeed.

Bren Lemoine 25MBV

Lemoine adds that everyone involved in the new program—administration, staff, leadership, and faculty “play a pivotal role in preparing every veteran to excel and make a difference at the highest level of their respective fields.”

Lemoine’s sense of service has rubbed off on her 14-year-old daughter, a freshman in high school and a current member of her school’s Navy JROTC program. “She loves it,” says Lemoine. She and her daughter have even talked about her applying to the Master in Business for Veterans program one day, continuing “a shared path of service and leadership,” Lemoine says. “She’ll likely outperform me in any of the program’s courses, but her love for math and numbers makes her especially drawn to finance!”

Profiles in Success: Bren Lemoine 25MBV

Veterans Events in November

Veteran in Leadership Speaker Series
Nov 21, 6 – 9 p.m., Featuring Takiesha Waites-Thierry, Bank of America: Learn More

Master in Business for Veterans Information Session at Goizueta
Nov 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., online or in person: Register Now

Learn more about Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

The post Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Bren Lemoine appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

This Veterans Day and throughout November, join us in celebrating veterans as we profile three remarkable members of the Goizueta community, each on a unique path but united by their shared commitment to excellence, both in service and beyond.

At Goizueta Business School, supporting veterans and active-duty military members has long been a core value, woven into the school’s identity. Goizueta welcomed its inaugural class of the new Master in Business for Veterans program earlier this year. The fully accredited 11-month program is designed for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. It provides tailored resources and experiences to help veterans transition into business leadership roles.

The new program is only the most recent testament to Goizueta’s enduring dedication to those who have served our country. This year, Goizueta also celebrates its largest cohort of veteran students across all programs.

Meet Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

When Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA reflects on his eight-year stint in the Army, his story is punctuated with a lot of crazy tales—of adventures he signed up for as additional training—from jumping out of helicopters and swimming to the shore with all his gear to roughing it in the jungles of the Philippines for three months.

Smeltzer jokes that, looking back, he cringes to think about rappelling 100 feet out of a helicopter and the other adrenaline-fueled activities that once filled his days. At the same time, he admits that those experiences were some of the reasons he stayed in the Army.

War is a terrible thing, but seeing the bigger picture—traveling to different countries—gives you a very humbling perspective. It made me a more well-rounded person.

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

Now, Smeltzer, who left the Army as a captain, is taking on a new challenge—getting his MBA at Goizueta. He is now filling his time contributing to student organizations and finding ways to help other veterans, all before he graduates in May and begins a new career in the civilian world.

How It Started

Smeltzer grew up in Pennsylvania and joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard after high school to pay for college. During his first month in college, he saw a poster for Army ROTC and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. After college, Smeltzer reported to Fort Lee, Virginia, the first of many stops on his journey.

While Smeltzer had planned on becoming a police officer or state trooper, the Army decided he’d excel in supply chain and logistics.

Leading Logistics in the Army

Though he had not taken any supply chain classes in college, the Army sent Smeltzer to leadership courses for training. Over the course of his Army career, Smeltzer’s charge grew from 55 to 75 soldiers. He held titles including regional transportation planner and logistics company commander.

The last title he held was supply management officer. In this role, he created and executed a $21 million project plan, which provided logistics to more than 5,000 U.S. and foreign military service members for 50 days across three Hawaiian Islands.

Whether it was moving people or equipment, Smeltzer tackled all aspects of supply chain management during his time in the Army—a transferrable and valuable skill set that would serve him well in the future.

Smeltzer served one deployment during his service, and it was in the middle of COVID-19. His job was to transport soldiers who operated and maintained the communications of air-to-surface missile launchers in the Middle East. Navigating the required quarantine for these individuals during this time added an extra challenge to the task at hand.

His largest strategic contribution overseas was removing equipment from Afghanistan. During this time, the leader of an Iranian group was killed, which resulted in retaliation on U.S. bases in Iraq.

“At the time, I wasn’t privy to all of this information. My mission was just to move this equipment to other places,” says Smeltzer. “After that happened, it felt good to play a part in moving the equipment that shot down those missiles so no U.S. soldiers were hurt or killed—I actually made an impact.”

Time to Go

One of Smeltzer’s final acts in the Army was a six-month long internship, a transition period, where he worked for the Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The group works to find the roughly 70,000 missing in action and prisoners of war, going all the way back to World War II. During his internship, Smeltzer assisted with nearly 200 cases, some of which are now being resolved.

“It was my proudest personal military achievement,” recalls Smeltzer.

It was a really awesome closure to my military experience, meeting the families who didn’t know what happened to their loved one for 60 or 70 years and getting to say, “Hey, we found them.”

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

Smeltzer’s last station was in Hawaii, where he got to work alongside a diverse group of people. A large portion of his unit were U.S. ethnic minorities and a third were women.

“You get to learn about different cultures,” says Smeltzer, who also met several U.S. immigrants who joined the military as a path to citizenship. “It’s very interesting the things you learn and the stories of these people.”

Smeltzer admits he never pictured himself as a leader, but that is a skill he learned, honed, and refined during his service. Through the Army, Smeltzer says he was able to test his leadership skills and become a better version of himself.

The most rewarding part of being a leader in the Army was the tons of opportunities to help other people, like young soldiers who wanted to go to college.

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

Smeltzer helped dozens of aspiring soldiers apply for and enroll in college. He also taught basic financial literacy courses.

Back to Business School

When he decided it was time to leave the Army, business school seemed like the next logical step. Several of his friends went to business school to help with the transition from military to civilian life, gaining the confidence to transfer the skills they’d learned and experiences they’d had to a corporate career.

“It’s really surprising how similar the work I was doing in the military is to the real world,” shares Smeltzer.

Smeltzer praises Professors Lynne Segall and Renée Dye as well as the IMPACT program, which provides students with a safe space to work with real clients on real problems.

IMPACT was the perfect transitional class for someone who is pivoting careers. It was a perfect practice run for my internship.

Wyatt Smeltzer 25MBA

He says the class taught him how to create frameworks for projects, communicate with executives, and produce high-quality work.

“A lot of people think that people in the military are rigid thinkers, but we have a lot of flexibility to think strategically.”

Smeltzer spent the summer working for Deloitte’s Enterprise Performing Practice, where he put his military supply chain and logistics skills to work—and where he’ll return after graduation. He hopes to find projects in the trucking or airline industries.

When Smeltzer isn’t in class, he’s found every possible way to give back. He helps fellow veterans apply to Goizueta, assisting them through the enrollment process as  a member of the MBA Veterans Club. He’s been a Delta Leadership Coaching fellow, president of the Goizueta Management & Operations Club, vice president of the Goizueta Technology Association, and vice president of communications for the Goizueta Business Association. He’s also served as a member of the Consulting Association and Nonprofit Consulting Club.

Through his role in the Nonprofit Consulting Club, Smeltzer has been able to give back to the greater Atlanta community, too. This experience included a project that helped a women’s shelter relocate and reorganize their transportation system.

“I love helping people out, and I love being around my peers. They’re so smart. You hear some horror stories of other business schools being super cut-throat, but it’s the exact opposite at Goizueta,” says Smeltzer. “I’ve built great friendships and that surprised me. I thought it would be more business and work relationships, but I genuinely know a lot of these people really well.”

“These friendships will last for a long time.”

Goizueta Remembers and Honors this Veterans Day

Veterans Events in November

Salute to Service at Goizueta: A Veteran Preview Event
November 7-8: Registration is now closed.

Veterans Salute to Service Dinner and Keynote Kyle Eberly
November 8, 5-8 p.m.: Registration is now closed.

Emory University Veterans Day Ceremony
Nov 11, 11 a.m.: Register Now

Emory University Veteran Day Alumni Event
Miller-Ward Alumni House, Nov 11, 6-8 p.m.: Register Now

Veteran in Leadership Speaker Series
Nov 21, 6 – 9 p.m., Featuring Takiesha Waites-Thierry, Bank of America: Learn More

Master in Business for Veterans Information Session at Goizueta
Nov 23, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., online or in person: Register Now

Learn more about Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans program.

Find out how the Goizueta MBA takes students beyond business as usual. 

The post Goizueta’s Veterans: Meet Wyatt Smeltzer appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

The Master in Business for Veterans program is led by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen.

“The Master in Business for Veterans cohort joins a strong Goizueta military and veteran community that has built a culture of supporting one another through their transition, educational journey, and pursuit of their personal and professional goals,” says Keen.

What makes the program unique is we work with each one of them individually, making it personal, as they work to apply their leadership experiences gained through military service toward seeking careers in the business world.

Ken Keen, Lieutenant General (Retired), U.S. Army, and Associate Dean for Leadership

“This program will help them build their network, business skills, and propel them to achieve their purpose beyond service in the military,” says Keen.

Meet the Class of 2025

The inaugural cohort of this working professional program includes 31 students. Among them are two Air Force, 19 Army, five Marines, and five Navy veterans and active duty service members.

These men and women have decorated and accomplished backgrounds, including several careers of service to the United States.

A few of the notable backgrounds include:

• – President of an open-source intelligence and technology company
• – A director of project management at a cybersecurity company
• – An Army veteran with 30 years of commissioned officer service
• – Three former Rangers with over 25 combat deployments
• – A practicing, board-certified registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist
• – A Naval intelligence officer with 12 years on the job
• – A lawyer, who received his degree from Emory University’s School of Law, and has also taught for almost 40 years

This new program is tailored to the experiences of service members. It aims to help them apply their military skills to civilian life.

“After deciding to retire after 23 years in the Army, I was looking for a graduate degree program. I needed one that could help me leverage my leadership, relationship-building, problem-solving, and strategic planning skills into the private and corporate business sectors,” shares Phil Paquette 25MBV, who served as an Army command sergeant major.

Goizueta’s strong reputation, combined with its dedicated support for military veterans, made it an ideal choice.

Phil Paquette 25MBV

“I am most excited about the future, where I will apply my military leadership and graduate education to real-world business challenges. The Master in Business for Veterans program’s focus on practical application and case studies will provide opportunities to do just that. I also look forward to collaborating with fellow veterans and learning from their diverse experiences.”

Learn more about the Master in Business for Veterans program.

Community and alumni support make this program possible. If you are interested in contributing to support veteran students enrolled in the program, please email gbsalumni@emory.edu to speak with the Goizueta Advancement and Alumni Engagement team.

The post Meet the First Cohort of Goizueta’s New Master in Business for Veterans appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Joseph Allen 25MBV

United States Army
United States Military Academy, Company Commander

“To me, the Fourth of July is our opportunity as Americans to celebrate the heritage and freedoms of our nation.”

Why do you think it’s an important holiday to celebrate and recognize?

America’s war for independence is the foundation of our national history. We can never forget this. The freedoms we enjoy and prosperity that defines our home is built on the legacy of the men and women that fought for our independence.

How do you plan to spend your Fourth of July?

I will be spending this Fourth of July with my wife and son. We will take part in our neighborhood’s firework display while enjoying BBQ with friends and loved ones.

Garrett Jones 25MBV

United States Marines
Currently works for Department of Defense

“More than anything else, the Fourth of July is a day to be grateful for the many freedoms we as Americans are blessed with. Many around the world are not nearly as lucky or fortunate to live in this country.”

How do you plan to spend your Fourth of July?

With my family, enjoying fireworks and food with my kids.

Victoria Johnson 25MBV

United States Air Force
Logistics Manager, Johnson & Johnson

“July Fourth represents a celebration of our nation’s independence, honoring the courage and sacrifices of those who have served, including my own experiences in the Air Force. It’s a time to reflect on the values of freedom and unity while enjoying moments with family and friends.”

Why do you think it’s an important holiday to celebrate and recognize?

Celebrating and recognizing July Fourth is important because it honors the historical significance of our nation’s fight for independence and the birth of our democracy. As a veteran, it resonates deeply with me, reminding me of the sacrifices made by those who came before us and the values we strive to uphold. It’s a time to reflect on our shared history and to remember the principles that define our nation and where we started.

How do you plan to spend your Fourth of July?

I plan to spend the holiday enjoying time with those closest to me by grilling out and watching some fireworks!

Phillip Paquette 25MBV

United States Army Ranger, Command Sergeant Major

“The Fourth of July is a day of great celebration. We gather and celebrate this holiday with backyard barbeques, reunions, and fellowship with those we cherish—friends and family alike. However, it is easy to lose sight of the deeper meaning of this day. As a service member, the Fourth of July represents purpose for why we stand together as Americans. It serves to unite us in who we are and where we’ve come from.

For service members, past and present, it is a stark reminder of the sacrifices made. This day embodies the ideals we’ve upheld serving our nation. It symbolizes the freedoms that have been defended by generations of brave Americans and the unity of purpose that binds us on common ground.

After more than 20 years of service, the Fourth of July, for me, is also about looking to the future. It is about continuing to learn and grow as a nation, ensuring the principles of freedom, liberty, and justice endure for generations to come.”

How do you plan to spend your Fourth of July?

I will spend this Fourth of July with my family and closest friends. We tend to not over celebrate but will partake in the usual traditions of going to the beach, breaking bread together, and watching fireworks from the beach.

The transition from a military career to a civilian one isn’t always easy or straightforward. Goizueta’s new Master in Business for Veterans serves military veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. It will teach you how to leverage your management and leadership experience from the military and pair it with business knowledge that gets you up to speed. Learn more here, and let Goizueta help you chart your path forward.

The post Goizueta Veterans Share Meaning of July Fourth Holiday appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

We mark the official start of the new year with celebrations on January 1. New Year’s is a time for new beginnings and a chance to start fresh. We revel in the possibilities and opportunities the new year brings. Frequently, it is a time for goal setting. Perhaps you’ve even made a New Year’s resolution or two?

But New Year’s is also a time to pause, if only for the briefest of moments, before we return to work, school, or whatever regularly scheduled programming life has in store for us. It’s a chance to take a pulse on the current state of things. We reflect on the past year, bask in the glow of its high points, and appreciate lessons learned from the challenges we faced.

So, before we launch full steam ahead into the new year, let’s take a look back at some great stories you may have missed this past year on EmoryBusiness.com.

Students Write Notes to Themselves for the Future

Every August, the students in Goizueta Business School’s Full-Time MBA programs gather for Keystone. It’s a week of giving back through volunteering and catching up with classmates after a summer internship. Students take the opportunity to pause, reflect, and project. As part Keystone, they write a letter to their future self, not to be opened for at least five years. The letter-writing experience has been a Goizueta MBA tradition since 2012.

Emory Entrepreneurship Summit Features Renowned Shoe Designer Stuart Weitzman

Goizueta Business School hosted the 7th annual Emory Entrepreneurship Summit March 30-31. One of the highlight’s of this year’s was the keynote address from Stuart Weitzman. Known for his commitment to prioritizing function as an integral element of fashion, Weitzman encouraged those in attendance to pursue their passions. He shared insights with a packed room of aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators in the form of a number of his truisms—or as he prefers to call them, “Stu-isms.”

Goizueta Launches Graduate Business Degree for Veterans & Active-Duty Military

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School announced in July the launch of its new Master in Business for Veterans. The program is a fully accredited 11-month degree for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel. Spearheaded by Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and Associate Dean for Leadership Ken Keen, as well as Faculty Lead Professor JB Kurish, the program will be guided by an advisory board of high-level business executives, several of whom are both retired military and graduates of Goizueta. The working professional program began accepting applications in August 2023 with the first cohort of veterans starting classes in May 2024.

Goizueta Business School Introduces New Master in Management Program for Recent Graduates

This past summer, Goizueta introduced its new Master in Management program. It’s designed specifically for graduates with a non-business major who are looking to level up their undergraduate degree. Experienced professors who are experts in their respective fields help students develop a foundation of with business knowledge and skills. Best of all, students can complete the Master in Management program in just ten months. This provides a fast-track option for students to gain a valuable business education and expand their career options.

Virtual Reality Revolutionizes Classroom Learning

Jill Perry-Smith is bringing an entirely new dimension to Goizueta’s Executive MBA program. Her focus: navigating difficult conversations and finding effective conflict resolution strategies. Through the use of virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), Perry-Smith, senior associate dean for strategic initiatives and professor of organization and management, hopes to provide more students with experience in dealing with interpersonal conflict.

Goizueta Faculty Work to Help the LGBTQ+ Community Thrive

Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and the LGBTQ Institute at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights are partners in the second survey of LGBTQ+ Southerners, released in April 2023. The study is a follow up to the 2017-18 inaugural survey, which was conducted by the Institute and George State University. This newly released study aims to help fill a critical research gap, looking at an understudied group with a larger data set.

The Voice of Alexa: How Speech Characteristics Impact Consumer Decisions

Rajiv Garg is associate professor of Information Systems & Operations Management at Emory’s Goizueta Business School. Garg conducts research that explores the impact of artificial intelligence voices on consumer behavior and purchase intent, along with partners at HEC Paris and The University of Texas at Austin.

So, here’s the question: Can the voice of Samuel L. Jackson sell you an office chair? Read on to find out.

Playing Ball: How One Goizueta Graduate Has Scored Big in the NBA

Meet Lauren Cohen 00BBA, who recently entered her 24^th season with the National Basketball Association (NBA). But she doesn’t play basketball. She’s the vice president of partner management and operations lead for the NBA’s global partnerships group.

Cohen credits two things with the stability and tenure she’s enjoyed at the NBA: the people she works with and her opportunities to change roles every few years. But it all started with the strong foundation she build at Goizueta.

Preparing Workers of the Future

The future of work. What does it mean?

For Goizueta Business School graduates, the future of work is an exciting prospect, and they are ready for it. These workers of the future are embracing their passions and pursuing multiple careers. They are making business decisions for the betterment of society and leveraging technology to enhance their skills. On top of that, they are learning how to lead dispersed, remote teams.

Goizueta graduates don’t fear the future. They embrace it.

Talking about the Business of Healthcare

Healthcare is a business like many other industries, but instead of just making money, healthcare workers must also save lives. Navigating patient care and profitability is a unique challenge that neither business professionals nor doctors are able to address alone.

Goizueta helps bridge that gap. We teach clinicians the fundamentals of business and teach business professionals how to apply their knowledge specifically within the healthcare field.

Help keep the great Goizueta stories coming with a gift of support to Emory’s 2O36 campaign.

The post The Best Stories of 2023 from Goizueta Business School appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Patrick Forrestal 24MBA originally wanted to play college football, and hadn’t considered a career in the military. But when the Naval Academy offered him a chance to play, he couldn’t say no. Both his father and grandfather are Academy alumni. Forrestal graduated in May of 2017 and served five years in the Marine Corps as an aviation supply officer. He spent three years in San Diego and one deployment in Kuwait in 2020.

As Forrestal considered his next move after completing his service, the Albany, Georgia native knew he wanted a career in business in Atlanta, close to family. And a full-time MBA program seemed the way forward.

At the end of the day, Emory made the most sense. Emory differentiated itself with the small class size, experiential learning opportunities provided through the IMPACT program, and the tight-knit veteran community led by LTG (ret.) Ken Keen.

Patrick Forrestal

Comradery in the Classroom

Those veterans in the full time MBA program made Forrestal feel welcome beginning on day one. Active duty kept him from the first week of official onboarding at Goizueta. But when he walked into his first class at 8:00am, Forrestal immediately found the veterans in the class. They were seated together on the front row.

However, it’s not just the other veterans that make a difference. The faculty at Goizueta also play a critical role in supporting the school’s veteran community.

“When you’re in a classroom talking about business concepts, you wouldn’t really think that the military guys would have a lot of things to talk about. But the teachers really turn to us and ask us to talk about our experiences. It’s in a sense comforting and makes you feel like you’re bringing value there.”

Beyond Graduation

Forrestal graduates in May 2024, and will begin working for EY-Parthenon as a management consultant. While he’s looking forward to his new career, he’s also looking forward to helping prospective veteran students.

“The veteran alumni network is a very welcoming community. As I was considering different careers and different firms, I didn’t have a single veteran that didn’t respond to an email or didn’t set time on a calendar to talk to me about their experience. Now having the ability to do that for class behind us for the prospective students coming is super rewarding.”

And if graduating from Goizueta Business School with his MBA and starting a new job weren’t exciting enough life changes, Forrestal and his wife Ansley are expecting their first child in March.

Goizueta is proud to support our nation’s veterans and active-duty servicemembers as they continue their education. Learn more about our new Master in Business for Veterans program.

The post Meet Patrick Forrestal: Creating Connections in Goizueta’s Veteran Community appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

The U.S. Navy has always been a part of Grace Miller’s 25MBA life.

“I learned at an early age to cheer, ‘Go Navy; Beat Army!’ I bleed the Navy blue and gold,” she jokes.

Miller grew up with four family members in the Navy: her grandfather, father, uncle, and cousin. This life-long exposure to the branch and her family members’ shared experience was ever-present as she faced figuring out her life’s steps after high school.

“I made the decision to attend the Navy Academy because I wanted the opportunity to follow in my family’s footsteps, to serve the country, and to see a purpose for my time in college.”

Away at Sea

When Miller graduated from the academy, she was commissioned into the Navy, where she served for five years and, ultimately, separated as a lieutenant.

During her service, Miller served onboard two Naval Destroyer ships and spent time at sea for a total of two years. One of the perks of her job was the travel—to countries like Australia and Japan—as well as participating in the Rim of the Pacific, which brings more than 25 nations together to conduct joint operations at sea.

Her challenge was leading a group of sailors. At one point, Miller worked as a damage control assistant, leading 28 sailors and six programs, including the systems and equipment that save a ship if flooding, fire, or structural damage occurs.

“The most rewarding aspect of serving was leading sailors,” she says.

On the hardest days in the Navy, the sailors in my division kept me motivated because of their hard work and dedication to their mission.

Grace Miller

Miller also served as a surface warfare officer. She led the ship’s Bridge Team, the men and women “responsible for safe navigation and mission accomplishment at sea,” she explains.

“The opportunity to follow in my family members’ footsteps to serve in the Navy has been the greatest honor of my life. I love being able to share those experiences with them,” says Miller.

Heading Back to Land

About a year before Miller officially transitioned out of the Navy, she was already thinking about civilian life—with hesitation.

“I did not know what I wanted to do in the civilian sector,” shares Miller. “The decision was daunting considering I had no experience in the corporate world. I struggled to see how my skill set would translate to a new profession.”

But Miller, as with many of our country’s veterans, had years’ worth of leadership experience that she could pull from. She also had an undergraduate degree in English.

Since her family still lived in the Atlanta area, Miller knew she wanted to return to Georgia. That put Goizueta at the top of her list of business schools for consideration.

I have to thank members of the Emory veterans network for their support and assistance as I applied.

“Without people like General Keen, Matt Ball 23MBA, and Pat Forrestal 24MBA, I would probably not be here at Emory,” says Miller.

Miller is looking forward to participating in Goizueta’s study abroad programs while she’s in school. She also plans to continue her quest to visit every National Park in the U.S., a life goal.

“I have grown so much in such a short period of time,” shares Miller of her first semester. “I have loved working with all the professors here. They are engaging, helpful, and so knowledgeable.”

Goizueta is proud to support our nation’s veterans and active-duty servicemen as they continue their education. Learn more about our new Master in Business for Veterans program.

The post From Warships to Business School: How One Navy Veteran Found Her Way to Goizueta appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Lieutenant General USA (Ret.) Ken Keen began his journey at Goizueta Business School in 2013. That’s when he first accepted the new position of associate dean of leadership. Since then, he’s become an an integral member of the faculty. His most recent initiative is spearheading the new Master in Business for Veterans program. It comes after a decade of developing programming and coursework designed to instill MBA students with the leadership acumen they need to succeed in business and in life.

“You need to learn how to inspire, influence, persuade, show empathy, listen to others, communicate effectively, and be present,” says Keen. “These programs allow students to put leadership into action.”

Forging Future Leaders

Leading by example is a core tenet of Keen’s curriculum, as evidenced in the many hands-on learning opportunities he oversees.

Through the one-day Leader’s Reaction Course, every Goizueta MBA student tackles several challenging obstacles at the U.S. Army post at Fort Moore, learning leadership along the way. The Goizueta Advanced Leadership Academy offers students the opportunity to put their skills to the test in a high-pressure, weeklong sailing adventure. In the Delta Air Lines Leadership Coaching Fellows program, students work one-on-one with an executive coach. They train to become peer coaches for other MBA students, learning to effectively interact with teams and individuals to improve performance.

People often ask Keen about the importance of leadership programming in higher education. “It’s important that students have a balance between learning hard and soft skills,” says Keen. “If you want to make a huge difference in society and business, you must know how to lead others effectively.”

Leading Beyond the Classroom

Today, Keen puts his own leadership skills to work in and out of the classroom. He currently serves on the advisory boards of HOPE Atlanta, the Witness to War Foundation, and the Foundation for Atlanta Veterans Education and Research. He also acts as Chairman of the Board of the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Keen often speaks to students about “showing up” as leaders. He tells them that good leaders know when to roll up their sleeves and do the work they’re asking others to accomplish.

I often remind my students that leadership is easy, but leading is hard.

Ken Keen

Spoken like a true leader.

The Master in Business for Veterans is specifically for military veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel looking to transition to a civilian career in business. The program leverages veterans’ management and leadership experience from the military. It pairs this experience with the business knowledge needed to transition into a wide range of industries. Learn more here.

The post Meet Ken Keen: Teaching Lessons in Character and Confidence appeared first on EmoryBusiness.com.

Every year, Emory University takes time to reflect on the sacrifices and commitment of our nation’s service members. As part of our Veterans Day celebrations, Emory Business asked some of our Goizueta alumni and faculty about what this day represents and means to them.

Brandon Cook 23EMBA

Management Consultant with ScottMadden, Inc.

What branch did you serve in?

I served in the U.S. Army for just over 20 years. I retired at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel this past June.

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

Veterans Day is a day to celebrate all those who served in the armed forces throughout our nation’s history. To me, it’s about more than celebrating just those men and women. Also, it’s about celebrating the common cause they felt driven to serve. Even though Veterans Day was established following WWII, it applies for all those who served throughout our nation’s history. Without each of them along the way, those of us who followed would not have the opportunity.

How do you honor this day?

On Veterans Day, I take time to remember them, remember those I served alongside. I take some time to be grateful for our nation. Also, I remind myself that we all need to stay committed to continually making it a better place for everyone.

Why is this day important to honor?

I believe there are different reasons for this day’s importance. To some, it’s to remember family and friends that served and reach out to express their gratitude. For many veterans, it is a day to remember their brothers and sisters in arms. We remember those we served with and alongside, who endured many hardships. We remember the times we shared—both good and bad. However, I truly believe the most important part for all of us is to honor the idea that what we have is worth fighting for. Many men and women still believe in that and are willing to raise their hand for it.

Qaadirah Abdur-Rahim 11EMBA

Head of Community Strategy at BlackRock Atlanta

How long did you serve?

Eight years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve as a senior airwoman.

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

Veterans Day is a special occasion to honor and commemorate the brave individuals who fought and made incredible sacrifices for the sake of our freedom.

Why is this day important to recognize?

Veterans Day holds significant meaning and serves as a reminder to all Americans about the importance of selflessness and dedication.

Matt Smith 01MBA

Commander of Joint Task Force – North
Major General in the U.S. Army

How long have you been serving?

It was 30 years last May, so 30.5 years.

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

It’s a commemoration of people who are still serving. It’s the ultimate “thank you for your service” kind of day. I always think of it from the perspective of thanking those who are still serving because that’s the original manifestation of the day.

Do you do anything special to honor this day?

At all speaking engagements, especially those on Veterans Day, I make a point of asking if there are any Vietnam veterans in the audience. Then I say thank you for your service and initiate applause. I have been surprised over time by the reaction that this produces in some of these Vietnam veterans. It’s very heartfelt and makes me feel good for having done it.

Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Ret) Ken Keen

Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management
Associate Dean for Leadership
Program Lead, Master in Business for Veterans

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

Honor, sacrifice, hope, and freedom. First and foremost, I want to thank all veterans for serving our nation. A veteran represents someone who has patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. Also, a veteran has to be willing to write a blank check to the United States of America for an amount up to and including his or her life. No other commitment matches this great of a sacrifice made to our country.

How do you honor this day?

By remembering all those I served with, especially those who did not come home to their loved ones. I try to do my part to pay it forward, by serving other veterans to help them transition to civilian life and gain access to a graduate business education, if that is their goal.

How Goizueta Supports Active-Duty Service Members and Veterans

Goizueta strives to support active-duty service members and veterans during their transition to civilian life as well as in their educational journey, including a recently launched a graduate business degree.

The Master in Business for Veterans is a fully accredited 11-month program designed specifically for active-duty military, veterans, National Guard, and Reserve personnel.

“Our program gives students a foundation in business knowledge, building off their existing leadership training, and allows them to apply their skills in real-world scenarios with real clients,” shares Ken Keen.

Scholarships, Fellowships, and More Support for Service Members:

Yellow Ribbon Program: Goizueta has been a Yellow Ribbon partner since 2009, providing up to 50 Yellow Ribbon awards per year. The school’s contribution ($22,250 annually) is matched by the Veterans Administration. Recipients are still considered for merit-based scholarships as well. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website for more information on eligibility.

Goizueta Business School Military Fellowships: This award recognizes one or more current Goizueta MBA students with a fellowship and financial stipend up to $10,000 for each student to serve in a formal role to support the Goizueta Business School in its military recruiting efforts for all graduate level programs (MBA, MS Business Analytics, Master of Analytical Finance).

Goizueta Military Scholarship: The Goizueta Military Scholarship provides funding support to active-duty military or veterans enrolled in any Goizueta degree program. The funding amount and number of scholarships awarded varies each year.

Military Consortium: Goizueta partners with this organization, under The Graduate Management Admission Council. Through this partnership, we can offer many benefits for applicants with military experience. Military service members who have been on active duty within three years of applying may be eligible for a waived application fee. If a military student’s plans are delayed by their service, they may also be eligible for a one-year deferment. We may also accept applications from deployed military personnel after our standard application deadlines.

Goizueta Business School Veterans Association: The association uses its extensive network to provide mentorship for student-veterans to help overcome the unique challenges that veterans face transitioning into the civilian workforce.

Additional Resources and Support for Veterans

Emory Healthcare Veterans Program

Post-9/11 veterans and service members dealing with mental health concerns can seek expert, collaborative care from this program.

Emory Law Volunteer Clinic for Veterans

Veterans and their families can receive pro bono legal services. This may include assistance with disability claims before the Veterans Administration and subsequent appellate proceedings, estate work, and discharge upgrades before the Department of Defense.

The Master in Business for Veterans is specifically for military veterans, active duty, National Guard, and Reserve personnel looking to transition to a civilian career in business. The program leverages veterans’ management and leadership experience from the military. It pairs this experience with the business knowledge needed to transition into a wide range of industries. Learn more here.

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